GentleLimit
Mindful screen time for macOS without blocking apps
80 followers
Mindful screen time for macOS without blocking apps
80 followers
Hard blockers kill your flow. GentleLimit protects it. GentleLimit is a macOS app that helps you build mindful screen habits without blocking apps. Instead of interruptions, it keeps your usage visible through subtle signals and floating widgets in your peripheral view. Stay aware of how you spend time in distracting apps while keeping your focus intact. Private by design — all data stays on your Mac.
ActiveStat
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This is really cool. I think that I saw something similar to @focusedOS
What kind of permissions do I need to give this tool, and what data leaves my computer?
Is there any pricing available?
ActiveStat
@busmark_w_nika Thanks, really appreciate it!
Great question! GentleLimit doesn’t require any invasive permissions. It only uses standard macOS APIs to track app usage locally, and everything stays on-device. No data leaves your computer.
Compared to tools like focusedOS, the idea here is to be more subtle. Instead of blocking aggressively, it gives you gentle, always visible feedback (widgets + overlays) so you can stay within limits without forcing it.
There is a 7-day free trial, and one-time purchase of $6.99 after that. Happy to hear your thoughts if you try it.
Gentle nudges over hard blocks is the right approach for adults. The 7-second breathing overlay for daily limits is a creative touch. Does the floating widget show time remaining or time spent? Big difference in how it affects behavior.
ActiveStat
@greythegyutae Appreciate the thoughtful question!
This is something I thought about quite a bit. Right now, the floating widget shows time remaining. The goal is to treat time as a finite daily resource, so it nudges more intentional decisions rather than just tracking usage passively.
That said, I can definitely see the value in time spent as a more reflective signal and I am exploring offering both modes as a settings toggle to match how different people think. Curious which one you would personally prefer?
I think the non-blocking approach is a refreshing take. How does GentleLimit define “mindful” interventions — are they timed prompts, intention-setting dialogs, or something else entirely?
ActiveStat
@dr_simon_wallace Thanks, really appreciate it!
The goal was to make it always visible but never intrusive so it fits into your day without needing effort. Happy to hear your thoughts if you end up trying it.
Most focus tools solve distraction with a harder wall. Block the app, set a timer, and lock yourself out. It works until it doesn't, and then it just adds friction without changing behavior.
GentleLimit takes a different angle. Making distraction visible without hijacking focus is a subtler intervention, and subtler often sticks longer. The floating widgets don't punish you; they just make the pattern harder to ignore. That's behavior design with a lighter touch.
The framing is worth leaning into: This isn't a screen time app; it's a flow preservation tool. One sounds like parental controls; the other sounds like something a power user would actually want. That positioning shift alone changes who feels like the right audience.
I'm curious whether the subtle signal approach holds up for heavy multitaskers or whether it needs more weight to cut through at that level.